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Smoke
Detector - Detroit Michigan Home Inspector
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Smoke Alarms
Few of us realize how easily -- and how quickly -- fire can destroy our homes and take the lives of those we love. Fortunately, a product is available that can help protect us against fire… the smoke alarm.
By providing an early warning in the event of fire, smoke alarms may allow you and your family sufficient time to reach safety. Many people have neglected to install smoke alarms despite their life-saving potential and low cost. Even those who do have smoke alarms often take them for granted -- forgetting that they need some attention to continue working properly. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) offers the following tips for purchasing and maintaining smoke alarms.
Cut your family's risk in half - buy smoke alarms today
Experts report that consumers may cut their risk of dying in a home fire in half simply by having a smoke alarm in their homes. Smoke alarms are available at nearly all hardware, department and discount stores, often for under $20.
Look for the UL Mark
When you purchase a smoke alarm, look for the UL Mark on the product as well as on the packaging. The UL Mark tells you that a representative sample of the smoke alarm has been evaluated by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) to nationally recognized safety requirements. It also means that UL conducts follow-up evaluations to countercheck that samples of the smoke alarm continue to meet these safety requirements.
Photoelectric and Ionization type alarms
There are two types of smoke alarms available today: photoelectric and ionization. When smoke enters a photoelectric alarm, light from a pulsating light source in reflected off the smoke particles onto a light sensor, triggering the alarm. When smoke enters an ionization alarm, ionized air molecules attach to the smoke particles and reduce the ionizing current, triggering the alarm. While photoelectric smoke alarms generally respond faster to smoldering smoke conditions and ionization smoke alarms generally respond faster to flaming fire conditions, both types provide adequate protection against fire. Combination smoke alarms featuring both photoelectric and ionization technology are also available at hardware, department and home improvement stores.
There's safety in numbers
Install at least one smoke alarm on each floor of the house or residence and outside all sleeping areas. Some fire safety advocates recommend installing smoke alarms inside each sleeping area if sleeping with the door closed.
Test, clean and maintain your smoke alarms
Working smoke alarms are needed in every home and residence. Test and maintain your smoke alarms at least once a month, or follow the manufacturer's instructions. Smoke alarms most often fail because of missing, dead or disconnected batteries. Replace batteries at least once a year.
Practice a fire escape plan
In addition to installing smoke alarms in your home, the safety experts at UL also recommend that you develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year with all members of your household. In the event of a fire, every family member should know at least two ways out of each room. Stay as close to the floor as possible during your escape. Hot air and smoke rise, so the air nearest the floor may be safer to breathe. If you encounter a closed door during your escape, feel the door before opening it. If it's hot to the touch, use another exit. The heat could indicate fire on the other side of the door. Teach your children how to escape in case of a fire -- not to hide under a bed or in a closet.
Some individuals, particularly children, older people and those with special needs, may not wake up to the sound of a smoke alarm. You should be aware of this when developing your home fire escape plan.
Designate a well-lit place, a safe distance away from your home, where everyone will meet in the event of a fire. This will help firefighters determine if anyone else is still inside the home. And remember; never return to a burning building for any reason.
Review of smoke alarm installation, safety and maintenance
* Read and follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions exactly.
* Install fresh batteries in your smoke alarms at least once a year.
* Don't allow anyone to disconnect or "borrow" the batteries from your smoke alarms. A smoke alarm can't work unless it's connected to a power source.
* If a smoke alarm's warning alarm sounds, don't panic. Stay close to the floor and get out of the building. Before opening any doors, check the temperature. If the door feels hot to the touch, don't open it. Use an alternate exit.
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Lawn
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Spring
Lawn care Tips
Spring weather features fluctuating temperatures, increased rainfall and occasional high winds. Tender vegetation in the landscape may need to be protected when cold weather returns after a warm period. Spring bulbs and flowering shrubs are most susceptible to frost damage. You can protect your tender plants by covering them with a sheet or landscape fabric designed for that purpose. Simply cover the night before and remove in the morning.
Cool season lawn grasses such as bluegrass and tall fescue will begin to green up early in spring. You can hasten this process by mowing your lawn, which stimulates new growth. Remember, mow frequently and high (2.5-3.0 inches), never removing more than 1/3 of the leaf blade and return clippings when possible. Sometimes in early spring it isn't possible to keep up with mowing your grass, and you will need to collect the clippings to prevent clumping and suffocating.
Tips for Beginners
Lawn and landscape care is a home improvement hobby for many people across Michigan. Home gardeners find relaxation in the care and improvement of their landscapes.
For the beginner, start with a plan and sketch your landscape. Avoid overcrowding and plan for growth of your plants. Imagine what the landscape will look like in 5, 10, 15 and 20 years. Place plants in locations best suited for success. For example, plant a shade loving plant in a shady location.
Another excellent tip is to plan your landscape around the seasonal appearance of the plants you select. For example, select plants that flower at different times of the year to provide seasonal color. Don't forget the fall color of the leaves of trees or evergreen plants for winter color. Also, don't overlook fragrance as an addition to your landscape. Many plants have a wonderful perfume and add more than visual beauty to your landscape.
Landscape Jobs
Winter clean up is often the first job of the spring. Pick up fallen limbs and rake up any remaining leaves. Remove any mulching materials used to protect dormant plants, such as roses or other tender perennials. Spring is a popular time to plant trees and shrubs, but fall is the preferred time of year for best results. If you choose to plant trees and shrubs in the spring, try and select plants in containers and avoid balled and burlaped plants.
On the other hand, spring is an excellent time to install plants such as perennial and annual flowers. Bloom color coordination in the landscape is important and can produce beautiful and dramatic effects. Make sure to look closely at the label to determine bloom color when purchasing plants.
Some areas of the lawn may need to be seeded in the spring to keep a uniform appearance. But, just as with trees and shrubs, fall is the preferred time to seed cool season grasses such as bluegrass and tall fescue. Small areas the size of a baseball cap can often be successfully seeded in the spring but large areas are best left until the fall.
If you choose to seed in the spring, be sure to remove debris to expose soil and level the area. Choose a good quality seed that is the same as the existing grass type and sprinkle evenly across the surface. Do not over apply the seed; a little goes a long way. Water the area thoroughly, and keep watering daily until the seed sprouts. Do not allow the area to dry out while the seedlings are young. Mulching with straw or similar materials is not necessary for small areas.
Watering
Springtime in Michigan rarely is dry but occasionally, in late spring, the weather can turn dry. At this time of year most of us do not think about watering until plants are already too dry. Learn the signs of drought stress on the plants in your landscape and water before stress occurs.
Grass plants will tell you they need water when you walk across the lawn and your footprints in the grass do not bounce back. The grass will also have a blue green color. Watering at this point prevents excess stress on the grass. Make sure to water very thoroughly and deeply. This will help the grass grow a stronger root system and reduce the frequency of your watering efforts.
Newly planted or shallow rooted landscape plants will tell you they are dry by wilting during the heat of the day. If the plants are not too dry, they will rebound in the evening. But when plants are extremely dry they will wilt and stay wilted. The best approach is to water before plants become too dry. |
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